Tour to Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh the sophisticated, historic, with a beautiful Lord buddha image

Chiang Mai's mainly venerated wat, Phra Singh temple attracts pilgrims and holidaymaker for its resident Buddha and its vintage Lanna art and buildings. Traveler should costume modestly.

Phra Singh temple is haply the largest and most interesting, although it may not seem so at first look . At entering the main gate, you're greeted by a large and dusty parking area. Across the lot is a great prayer hall (litany hall) with an intricately carved front. This is your first clue that there is more here than there might become visible. The altar in the large chapel is charming, though rather standard for Thai wats these days. We were a bit amused by the plethora of "account books" spread about on the reasonable side of the altar (behind the columns in the picture we're afraid). In any temple that gets wayfarer, there is almost always a donation box with a guest book for you to write your name and gobbet donated in. Well, in this temple there have been at least half a dozen boxes, each with a dissimilar intent - repair of the wat building, electrical energy, taxes, etc. and so each with its own account book. At making a donation to one or more intent, you then have to write around for the proper book to write it down in.

Wat Phra Singh was created in 1345 by King Pha Yu for the ashes of his faher, Ruler Kham Fu. It may have been the primary monastery to house the Emerald Lord buddha, that later resided in Chidi Luang temple and is now enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok. The wat is named for the Lord buddha statue it housed in 1367, the Phra Singh (Lion Buddha). The temple-monastery knock down into disrepair as Chiang Mai's population declined in the 18th century, but repairing began in the early 19th century under Chao Kawila. The labor continued under his successor, Chao Thammalangka, who commissioned the murals in Viharn Lai Kham.

Phra Singh temple points of interest
Viharn Luang

The largest construction in the wat is the Viharn Luang. The original viharn was made towards the end of the 14th century, but was replaced by the current structure in 1925. This spectacular viharn houses a very highly venerated Buddha statue named Phra Chao Thong Tip. This gold and copper images of a seated Lord buddha was cast in 1477.

Viharn Lai Kham

One of the great model of Lanna style structure is the Viharn Lai Kham. This viharn or assembly hall was made at the end of the 14th century to house a very highly honored Buddha sculpture named Phra Singh Lord buddha. The very majestic exterior of the Viharn Lai Kham is ornamented in typical Lanna gold and ochre colors. The viharn made from teak wood has a 3 tiered roof line, the lower edges of that are ornamented with chofahs, a decorative beautification that resembles the shape of a very thin bird. The inside of the viharn is at least equally charming as the exterior. The back wall of the viharn with the Phra Singh Buddha images sitting in the centre is covered with fantastically detailed, intricate Lai Kham, which is red lacker attractive with gold leaf.

Ho Trai

The Ho Trai is the wat library, where ancient Buddhist scriptures are kept back. The library that was built towards the end of the 15th century is a very exquisite wooden building built on a high stone base to indemnify the manuscripts from flooding and pests. The base is richly adorned with carvings of Devata figures, a sort of guard angels. The wooden top building is covered with glass mosaics and gilded lacker works. The stairs leading to the Ho Trai are guarded by large mythical animals.

Phra Singh Buddha

The Phra Sihing or Phra Singh Buddha image is considered specially sophisticated. It is one of a rare series of "lion" style images. The features of this style are said to be similar to those of a lost "Lion of Sakyas" images, which come from the Pala school in Bodhgaya, India. Every year on April 13, Songkran Day, the sculpture is paraded on Chiangmai streets for local people to sprinkle scented water at.

This wat should not be missed out on when visiting Chiang Mai. There is a couple of small temples you can loaf into and it's nice to see the monks walking around too. The environment is very peaceful. You'll find benches surrounded by attractive green vegetation you can relax on and dear signs with nice quotes on, attached to trees. If you have an hour, or even half an hour free, then I'd direct visiting this temple.

How to go?: Situated in the old town wall, at the western end of Ratchadamnoen Road, the wat’s signature Lanna-style roofs and impressive viharn (assembly hall) invite people. For a great Chiang Mai day trips with guided that includes a tour to Wat Phra Singh and other important temples in City town please contact Chiang Mai Tour Ageny in the city.

Access charge & opening time: The temple usually is open daily from 6 am until 5 pm. Admission is free.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep well worth a stop if you are in Chiangmai

A must see, on any voyager to Chiang Mai, is the wondrous and divine wat of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which is based nearby the top of Doi Suthep - Pui National Park.

Doi Suthep Temple that is on the top of Doi Suthep montane is some of the most Land mark of Chiang Mai, everybody come to Chiangmai have to visit this wat if you come to Chiangmai and never been they said you never been to Chiang Mai yet.

The Doi Suthep Temple is build near the peak of Doi Suthep mount at 1055 metres above the sea level, 15 kilometers from Chiang Mai city town. The wat can be reached from the main avenue through the Suthep - Pui national park.

The way up to the Phra That is a cement landing trim with seven-headed Naga. Inside the wat is a Chiang Saen design chedi. Following stylised Lanna drawing, the bell-shaped stupa is covered with two layers of gold leaf and has a high octagon base. Bestead to the west of Chiangmai, voyager can clearly look the scenic admire of the city from the temple. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is held as certainly one of some of the most important temples in the province. It might as well be said that a tour to Chiang Mai cannot be done with no a stop to pay a symbol of regard to Doi Suthep Temple.

Construction on Wat Phra That Doi Suthep began in 1386 under King Kuena (r.1367-88) and was completed within a few years. The temple neat was periodically expanded and embellished over the following centuries. Construction would have been an arduous task, with workers having to carry supplies through thick jungle: the avenue leading to the temple was only installed in 1935. The modern paved road was a joint effort of communities throughout the Chiang Mai region, each of whom contributed 1,300-foot sections.

You will find fine views over the city town of Chiangmai to be had from the temple's lower platform. The platform is surrounded by big bells that are rung by pilgrims to bring good fortune. On the northwest corner of the platform is a statuary of the legendary elephant who selected  the spot of the wat. Enclosed by a frescoed cloister, the upper terrace is home to a tightly-packed enigmatic of little sacred place, bells, golden umbrellas and Buddha sculpture. shoes must be removed and shoulders must be covered before entering this oracular area. In the center of the upper terrace is the great pagoda, a 16th-century expansion of the 14th-century original. The dazzling gold-plated temple is modeled on Wat Phra That Haripunjaya in Lamphun, formerly the greatest wat in the Chiangmai region.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is approached on foot by walking a precipitous stairway, that  has 306 steps and is flanked by large  legendary  King of nagas (Serpents), that  symbolize humanity's progress from ground into paradise.

Most Thai voyager come to make an offering usually flowers, candles, incense, and small squares of gold leaf that are applied to a favored Buddha or to the exterior of a chedi and to be blessed. Believers kneel down and touch their foreheads to the ground three times in venerate. Some shake prayer sticks to learn their fortune.
The Doi Suthep Temple is certainly one of the most significant temples of Northern Thailand. During the Buddhist holidays of Visakha Bucha day and Makha Bucha Day Thai people come to this temple in great numbers.

Ticket : Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (admission 30 Thb.) is open daily 7am to 5pm. If you'd rather not climb the 306 steps, a special part of the experience, there's a funicular lift to the top for 50 Thb.

Get here early or late to avoid the crowds. To get here, take a red truck from in front of the zoo, at the western end of Huai Kaeo street. The ticket fee is 50 Thb going up and 40B for the Bhubing palace. The ride can get cool, so bring a jersey or jacket. The bus stops at the base of the king of nagas stave. Another choice you can contact Chiang Mai travel agency.This tour is available in two alternatives  join with group tour or private tour. The private option provides you better flexibility and you can spend as much or as few time at any of the spots that you visit. Unlike the tight and fixed schedules of budget tours, the private option allows you to do the tour at your own pace. This half day tour is a most worthwhile one. You can simplify matters by booking a half-day tour though any travel agency in Chiang Mai for around 600B, including a stop at Winter palace or Meo Village that you can choose one.